Write UP: Scada Systems

BLUF: This week I read and learned more about SCADA systems, along with the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure systems, and finally how SCADA applications help mitigate and control those risks.

What are SCADA Systems?

Supervisory, Control, and Data Acquisition systems are computer based systems that monitor and look over industrial complexes. They assess and collect data from things such as waste management, gas, pipelines, electrical plants, etc.

Some vulnerabilities & risks in infrastructure

The biggest risks SCADA systems face are malware, ransomware attacks, and unauthorized access attacks. Due to how SCADA Systems are normally all connected to some sort of network, malware and Ransomware can cause devastating damage to a system. Whether that be jeopardizing the system and costing hundreds of thousands of millions of dollars. Unauthorized access allows for bad actors to gain access to those industrial and complex systems and mess with them without any permission. Once again this can cause catastrophic damage and potentially put lives in danger.

How SCADA helps those prevent those risks

The easiest way to mitigate these types of risks is simply the use of user authentication programs, whether it be multi factor, authentication, or ways of monitoring who is on at what time by using surveillance systems. Practicing non-repudiation, training users, limiting access at certain times, or adapting new protocols to protect security, all of these are different ways to help protect from the potential risks that come from the SCADA devices

Conclusion: SCADA systems are used in many industrial and complex industries, ones that we use every day that make life easier. While they have some security risks, they all can be mitigated with the proper amount of surveillance and accountability.